During the off-season (April to June) there were significant decreases in the percentage of body fat, and substantial increases in the maximum aerobic power of the players. However, there were no further improvements in cither of these two parameters during the playing season. In fact, aerobic power actually declined as the season progressed. Holyrnard and Hazeldine were unclear as to whether this reduction was due to a Joss of fitness per se, or was a result of accumulated match fatigue. Although there were improvement in sprint ability (30 meter speed) during the first half of the season, anaerobic power (as determined by a high-inten sity 20 metre shuttle run rest) remained constant throughout the entire assessment period.